Invalid&#39;s footrest



Sept 2, 1952 A. H. JoNEs 2,609,035

INVALIDS- FooTREsT Filed Maron 16, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 l INVENIOR. Anuman. H'. Joucs BY v A. H. JONES INVALIDS FOOTREST Sept. 2, 1952l Filed March 16 1951 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 INVENTOR. ALLxANou. H. Janes mM/mmva/n'aaow i ATTO QN EVS Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 f y 2,609,035

l `INVA'LIDS FOOTREST i j V,Aleirander Jones, Jackson, Applicatibn ltinach 1 6, 1951.; Serial No. 215,878

This invention relates'to improvements in footrests,'and more particularly to anad'justable supporting device for the legs and feet` of aninvalid which can be quickly and easily adjusted to any desired position for the comfort of the user, Y

A main object of the invention-is to provide a novel and improved adjustable-,footrest'which is simple in construction, which is' adjustable over a wide'range of'different'positions Vin accordance with the re'quirements'of` different individuals, and which-is easy-to` manipulate;Y

A further object of the invention is to -provide an improved adjustable invalids f ootrest which involves inexpensive components, which is sturdy in construction, which is easy to operate, which may be employed to-supporteither one or both legs of the person using theldevica which'is light in weight, and which is compact in` size.

Further objects and advantages of theV inventionA will become apparent from `the following description and c1aims,-and from the accompanying drawings, wherein: v -Y i Figure 1 isa top plan view of an improved Ainvalids footrest constructed iii-accordance `with the present invention; 1

Figure 2 is a rear-elevational-view of the foot-, l

rest shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is anenlarged.

view taken on line `4-4 of Figure 1.;

view taken on line 5?-5.of Figurel;

Figure 6 isan enlarged crosssectionali detail.

view taken online 6.-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional detailpview takenv on line ,1-11 of Figure 3;

Figure` `8 is an venlarged cross-sectional; Adetailclined supporting'legs I4', the ',endsof the legs I4` being curved downwardly and being provided.; with theV upwardly ilaringghead :portion ,IIy on. by the'base I2 may be readily moved ontheifloor.l 'Ir'hepost member I-3-is threadedly engaged-.in the., sleeve member i4, whereby said post vmember may be adjusted vertically with respect tothebase; I2.l

U'Ihegtopend ofthe post member -I3, is formed i withy the upwardlyt flaring head.,portion,- |6fi en horizontalplatmem-f, 55;' thefsliaf-tA I91 and which is Arotatably vmounted at which is rigidlysecured-th view taken online' cross-sectional detail' 30 Figure 5 isan enlarged cross-sectional detail 3 claims. (o1. 155-169) 2 ber I'I. Plate member I1 is generally rectangular in shape and is `rmly secured to the top of head portion I 6 by a plurality of radial arms I8 extending fromheadl and riveted or bolted to the plate member l1,- as shown in Figure 7. Extending through and rigidly secured to the head I6 is a horizontal shaft member I9 which is located below and which is transverse to the plate member I1, as shown in Figure '7. Designated respectively at`20, 20 'are a pair of footrest pads which are slidably and rotatably connected to the respective portions of the shaft I9 on opposite sides of the plate member I1, as by spaced depending brackets 2l secured to the bottom surfaces of the footrest pads 20 through which the shaftlS extends. The brackets 2l are arranged so that the pad elements 20 overlie the plate member I1 and'are in sliding Contact with the top surface of said member Il when `the foot pad elements are in inwardly adjusted lpositions.

' Secured to the intermediateportion of the inside margin of each foot pad element 20 is an upstanding, -semicircular plate member 22 provided with spaced apertures 23 located adjacent its periphery. Secured to each of the members 22 is an inwardly facingl angle bar -24 formed at its intermediate portion with an upstanding semicircular Vplate element 25 provided with spaced apertures -26 arranged to selectively registerlwith the apertures 23 in the'member 22, whereby members 22 and 25 may be connected by a suitable fastening bolt 21, as shown in Figure 4; Secured to the bar 24 is an angle bar 28 arranged parallel'to the .base flangeof bar24 and defining' `aYchanneledguideway or track with respect to the base flange-ofthebar 24. With the foot pad elements 20 -inhorizontal positions, the bottoms 'oi the bar elements 24 are flush with thebottom surfacesfoi the foot pad elements 20, whereby the foot pad elements and bar elements may slide on the top surface of the plate member I'I. As above explained, the 4channel-'shaped track elementsdeiined between the bars v28 and the base-flange-p'ortions of the bar 24 face in-V wardly and are in opposing relation. Designated at 29, 29 are respective lever members pivoted at 30, 3U to the ,platex-nember I'I and arrangedfor swinging movement in a horiaontal'plane parallel to the plate member Il. The ends of the lever members129,'29 are provided with ball elements 3l which are slidably received inthe channel-sha'ped tracks deiined between bars V28 and the'basepflangesof thefbar members` 24.V

Designated at'f32 is 'ashaftliriehlber"whichI is disposed Overl the@ plate.v memberd l" vtransverse to one end in a bearing bracket 33 secured to the plate member I1. The shaft 32 has a threaded portion 34 on which is engaged a nut member 35 whose lower portion is slidably received in a notch 36 formed in plate member I1 and which extends parallel to the shaft 32. The nut member 35 is connected to the levers 29, 29 by respective link bars 31, 31, as shown in Figure 1, whereby the link bars 29, 29 are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions responsive to the rotation of the shaft 32. The inner marginal portions of the .pad members 20, 20 are connected together by respective coil springs 38, 38 located adjacent the forward and rear margins of the pad members 20, 20 and secured in the end portions of the inwardly facing, channel-shaped tracks above described, as shown in Figure 5. The springs 38, 33 bias the pad members 20, 20 toward each other, but said pad members are maintained in separated positions by engagement of the ends s ofthe levers 29, .29 in the opposing, inwardly facing'guide tracks. From Figure 1 it will be noted that the ends ofthe lever members 29, 28; abut, the guide tracksl in the mid-portion ofsaid tracks, namely, at locations substantially equally spacedfrom the biasingsprings, 38, whereby the levers 29, 2S are effective to exert smooth, spreading force to urge the -pad Amembers 29, 20 apart against th-e biasing force of springs 33, 38

responsive to the rotation of the shaft 32. "Said,

shaft is provided at its ends with a crank handle 39. for the manual rotation thereof.

lt. .will b e apparent from Figure-.4 that when the pad-members -20 have been disposed so that the members-22 navefbeenmoved just beyond the sideedgesof the plate member l1, the pad meinbers 1.2.0. maybe iiltedto desired angular positions aroundftheshafi l9..bvunfasteninsthe bolts 21.

A padmemberl may be secured in any, desired. angular; position .around theshaft I9.- by secur-` ing member 22 to member 2 5 thereof by engaging s bolt 27 through a pair of registering apertures 23I and 26. It will be further apparent that the pad members 20 may be thus individually adjusted to desired angular positions to suit the requirements of an individualuserof thedevice.

Designated at 49,' 40 are respective extension membersy provided onv the rear. margins of the pad members'z, .20, eachextensionmember comprising a-,rackvbar 4I; slidably supported` in a hefiiielfbrakei 42 Secured to. the under surface of a. pad member 26)v and provided at its outer end with an opstanding.- -iiange or abutment 43. Journaled beneath the rear marginal portion of each pad member 2,0:is ra crankshaft 44 on which is secured al gearl element 45 which meshes-with arack bar 4 I,as shownin Figure 8. Each .-crank.

shaft r4 4 vis provided withv a. .crank lhandle 45 locatedin the space between the pad members 20, 23,` whereby the abutments 43,l 43 may. be -extended to any desiredfpositio-ns by rolt-ating the crank handles 45.

Designated at 41 is; an auxiliary footrest element which comprises a base portion .4 8.and an upstanding flange 49. The auxiliary footrest element 41 is detachablyvsecuredto the forward l'- marginal portions of the padfmembers., 20, 20 by straps 59 connecting` the forward corners of base 48 to the insidecorner portions o-fv the pad elements 219,20v and by. additional,l strap. members 5I'- connecting the top corners of. the flange 49 to the plate member I1, as shown in Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 1,;the auxiliaryfoo-trest. element 41 is located in the space -betweenthe for'- ward corner portions ofthefoot pad elements 2, 20- and maybe 4thus employed'. as. an auxiliary.L

foot support. However, if the use of said auxiliary element 41 is not required, said element may be removed by disconnecting the straps 5U and 5L In using the device, the apparatus is adjusted to provide a desired spacing of the foot pad elements 20, 2,0 by rotating the hand crank 39. The auxiliary extensions 40, 40 may be adjusted to desired, rearwardly extending positions by rotating the hand cranks 45. If it is desired to adjust theV angular positions of the foot pad elements 20, 20, said foot pad elements are arranged in positions as shown in Figure 4, with the margins of the foot pad elements 20 located just beyond the side margins of the plate member I1,

whereby the foot pad elements 20 may be unfastened and rotated around the shaft I9 to desired angular positions. As above explained, the foot pad'elements 20 may then be secured in their desired positions of angular adjustment by engaging the bolt 21 through registering apertures 23 and 26 in the respective plate elements 22 and 25. It will be further apparent that the elevation of the foot pad elements 20, 20 maybe adjusted by rotating the post element I3 in the sleeve I4.

While a specific embodiment `of an improved invalids footrest has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be ,understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to thosevsklled'in the art. Therefore, it isintended that no limitations be placed on theinvention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An invalids footrestcomprising a base, van upstanding post member secured to said base, a horizontal shaft secured to the top portion. .of saidl post member, a horizontal plate member secured to said post member abovesaidshaft, a pair -of ypad members slidably mounted .on said shaft von yopposite sides of said plate member yand overlying said plate membenspring. means connecting the pad members, a crankshaft journaled on said plate member and-extending transversely of said first-named shaft. alrespective Alevers pivoted to the side portions ofzsaid plate member and each having one endfportion :thereofengageable with the inner side marginal portion .of a respective pad member, a nut membergthreaded on the crankshaft, and respective links. connecting the nut member to the other vend portions ofy the respective levers, whereby rotation .of..said crankshaft movespthe. nuti-member .therealong andicauses the levers tov rotate, thereby moving the pad members to vary the spacingtherebetween. y

2. An invalids footrestcomprising a basefan upstanding post member. secured. to said base, a horizontal shaft'secur'ed to the top portion of said postmember, a horizontalplateimember secured to. saidpost member above saidlshaftf a4 pivotedV to the sidelportions of said plate meme' ber and .each havingone endl portionthereof engageablewith the inner Aside ofv ay respective pad member, 'a nut memberthreadedon the crankshaft, respective links `con-vother end pornecting 1the?nutn'iember to the tionsv of the 'respective 'levers; Y whereby .rotation of said crankshaftmoves .the nut member-there yalongi-andscau'ses 'thez levers torotate, 'thereby marginal portion moving the pad member to vary the spacing therebetween, and respective rearwardly extensible auxiliary rest elements mounted on the rear marginal portions of the pad members.

3. An invalids footrest comprising a base. an upstanding post member secured to said base, a horizontal shaft secured to the top portion of said post member, a horizontal plate member secured to said post member above said shaft, a pair of pad members slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft on opposite sides of said plate member and overlying said plate member, spring means connecting the pad members. a crankshaft journaled on said plate member and extending transversely of said first-named shaft. respective levers pivoted to the side portions of said plate member and each having, one end portion thereof engageable with the inner side marginal portion of a respective pad member, means on said inner side marginal portions defining channels slidably receiving the end portions of the levers. a nut member threaded on the crankshaft, respective links connecting the nut member to the other end portions of the respective REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 269.780 Fenny Dec. 26, 1882 20 1,106,872 Ingells Aug. 1l. 1914 1,337,919 Kngford Apr. 20, 1920 2,112,678 Rausch Mar. 29, 1938 2,375,225 Herbert May 8, 1945 2,522,173 Herbert Sept. 12, 1950 

